Plug



Patented an. 1929.

UNITE!) STATES. PATENT orr cs.

morn. E. nmnnx, or rains-mm, MAINE.-

PLUG.

Application filed October 24, 1927. Serial No. 228,417.

An'additional object of the invention consists of an operating bar for expanding and contracting the plug.

More s cifically stated the plug is pro- 1 vided wit a spring seat adapted for retracting the same to a normally expanded position when the operating handle is release I With the above and other objects in view,

the invention further consistsof the following novel features and details of construction,

to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompan 'ing drawing and .pointed out in the appen ed claims.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is an elevation of the invention partly broken away to illustrate the construction thereof.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the'invention. Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the device at right angles to Figures 1 and 2. Referring to in like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the-reference character 10 indicates a tubular handle member having an enlarged bore 11.upon one end and having a reduced portion 12 communicating with the bore of the handle member. The opposed end of the handle member is outwardly flared, as

indicated at 13, thepurpose of which will be readily apparent. A cylindrical shank 14 slidably mounted within the bore of'the tubular handle member 10 is outwardly flared adjacent the outermost end thereof to provide a semi-circular plug section 15.

' A companion section 16 hingedly connected with the shank 14 through the instrumentality of a contact plate 17 is normally spaced I from the section 15 by a compression spring 18, interposed between the adjacent'faces of the respective sections.

A plate member 19 surface of the section 15 is threaded, as indicated at 20, as in the instance of the contact plate 17 to grippingly enga e the threaded portions of the inner side- 0 a lamp socket,

the drawing in detail, wheretherein, as in the instance of the one an carried upon the outer not shown; -A spring contact finger 21 being carr ed upon the upper extremity of'the section 15 and which is adapted to form the cen ter contact for the plug while the plate member 17 serves the purpose of a shell contact when connected with the extremities'of a conducting wire 22 passed through the restricted bore 12 of the enlarged portion 11.

A compresslon spring 23 encircling the conducting w1re22 between the shoulder portion as defined between the. bore of the handle member and restricted bore of the enlarged portion 11 and the innermost end of the shank 14 is adapted to normally hold the sections of the plug member in the position, asfbest illustrated in Figure 3 of thedrawing;

'An operating bar 24 is passed transversely through the tubular handle member 10 within elongated-slotted portions 25 and an openmg in the shank 14. I

n the operation of the invention, the handle member 10 is rasped within thehand and the fingers passed projecting ends of the operating bar 24. Upon downward pressure of the operating bar, the shank 14 will be caused to descend an appreciable distance to allow the flared end 13 of the handle member 10 to close the sections 15 and 16 of the plug against the tension of the springs 18 and 23 respectively. The handle member 10 also provides an extenover the upper sides of the 1 sion by means of which, the lampsocket, not

shown, may be easily reached and when the plug sections have been positioned within the socket, the bar member 24 is then released and the threaded portions 20 of the plates 17 and 19 respectively will engagethe threaded por- .tions upon the inner side walls'of the lamp socket to hold the entire device against dis? placement and to insure a proper contacting engagement of the plug therewith.

The invention is primarily designed to obviate reaching up in globes to thread plugs two piece plugs. The invention saves twisting of cord, stops breaks in connections which result in short circuits, shocks, the blowing of fuses,

and ismore quickly and more easily used. It

is also to be understood that the invention may be manufactured of any suitable insulating material. a

in reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claimsi I Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is:

1. An expansible plug comprising a handle handle memberfor normally holding the sections in an expanded position, .an operating means carried by the handle member and having connection With the plug member to impart sliding action thereto to contract the sections thereof, and contact portions carried by each of the sections.

3. An expansible plug comprising a tubular handle member provided with an enlarged portion upon one end and a restricted bore communicating with the bore of the handle member at its opposite end, a plug including a shank slidably mounted within the bore of the handle member, plug sections carried by the shank normally spaced apart, and a pin member passed through the handle mem er and having connection with the shank and adapted to contract the sections when partially shifted within the handle member.

4. An expansible plug comprising a tubular handle member having an'enlarged portion upon one end and a restricted bore at the other end, a shank slidable within the handle member, plug sections carried upon the outermostend of the shank and flared therefrom,

one of the sections being hingedly connected With the shank, a compression spring interposed between the adjacent faces of the sections for normally holding the same in an expanded position, contact portions carried by the plug sections, the end of the handle member adjacent the o posed ends of the plug sections being flare to engage the flared portions of the sections, and an operating bar passed through the handle member and having connection with the shank to contract said sections when partially drawn within the handle member against the flared extremity thereof.

5. An expansible plug comprising a tubular end of the shank and flared therefrom, one of the sections being hingedly connected with the shank, a compression spring interposed between the adjacent faces of the sections for normally holding the same'in an expanded position, contact portions carried by the plug sections, the end of the handle member adjacent the opposed ends of the plug sections being flared to engage the flared portions of the sections, an operating bar passed through the handle member and having connection with the shank to contract said sections when partially drawn within the handle member against the flared extremity thereof, and a conducting wire passed through the restricted bore of the enlarged portion and having connection with the contact portions of the sections.

6. An expansible plug comprising a tubular handle member having an'enlarged portion upon one end and a restricted bore at the other end, a shank slidable within the handle member, plug sections carried the outermost end of the shank and flared therefrom, one of the sections being hingedly connected with the shank, a compression spring interposed between the adjacent faces of the sections for normally holding the same in an expanded position, contact portions carried by the plug sections, the end of the handle mem ber adjacent the opposed ends of the plug sections being flared to engage the flared portions of the sections, an operating bar passed through the handle member and having connection with the shank to contract said sections when partially drawn within the handle member against the flared extremity thereof, a conducting wire passed through the restricted bore of the enlarged portion and having connection with the contact portions of the sections, and a compression spring encircling the conducting wire within the handle member and abutting the enlarged portion of the handle member and the adjacent end of the shank to hold the plug sections in normally expanded positions.

In testimony whereof I allixj my signature.

LLOYD H. EMERY. 

